Decoy airplane



bvf 16, 1943. C, E. BUCHTEL 2,334,539

DECOY AIRPLANE Filed July so, 1942 :s sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 16, 1943.

c. E. BUCHTEL 2,334,539

DEcoY AIRPLANE Filed July 30, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR come E bucH'rEL ATTO RN EYS c. E. BUcHTl-:L

Nov. 16, 1943.

DECOY AIRPLANE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 30 l1942 Ila INVENTQR CLYDE E. BUCHTEL ATTORN EYS Patented Nov. 16, 1943 UNI-TED Y STATES ofi-Tricia'. f-

Clyde uchtel, Akron, Ohio, assignor to Monco vInc., Akron,'0hio, a corporation of Ohio Application July'so, 1942, serial N. 452,977 vicfst- 2775).

1o claims.

This invention relatesto decoyairplanesfsuch asare employed in militarystrategy to deceive the enemy@V Bymeans ofsuch decoys the'enemy may be deceived as to `the location of airelds and the number of airplanes based thereat; he may be caused to waste valuablel ammunition and fuel in destroying or attempting kto destroy material of -no offensive or defensive value; and` in general, he may be enticed into making hazardcus excursions into territory Where he may be ambushed by defense artillery or by interceptor aircraft based at nearby concealed bases.V

The chief objects of the invention are to provide an improved decoy airplane that is ofrelatively simple construction; thatreadily may be assembled and disassembled; that will 'be a three-dimensional structure soas more deceptively to simulateV the'appearance of an actual airplane even at relatively low altitudes; 'and that may be cheaply manufactured -so that itsde-l struction in service will entail no great loss. Other objects will be manifest as-the description proceeds. Of theY accompanying drawings: A. I

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a decoy airplane embodying the invention, a part of the cover thereof being broken away to reveal underlying frame.

structure;

Fig. Zis a fragmentary side elevation, Von a larger scale, of the rear end portion-of the decoy, a part thereof being broken away;

Fig. V3 isl a side elevation of the structur shown in Fig. 1, apart of the cover thereof being broken away, and a part being in section o line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the decoy;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View, on a larger scale, of one of the longitudinal body sections of the fuselage of the decoy, and the cover thereon; Y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail elevation show-VV ing the juncture of two adjacent body sections of the fuselage; Y Y

Fig. 'l is a detail elevation'of one of the elements employed for holding the cover in taut condition upon the wings and fuselage of the decoy; Y

Fig. 8 is a section, on a larger scale, on line 5,--8 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 is a, plan view of the structure yshown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown therein a decoy airplane simulating the appearance of a single-motor, Vlow-wing monoplane. The decoy `comprises. the usual fuselage, desbraces Il'.

ignated as a :whole by the'numeral I|l,- and the usual wings designated as a `whole bythe numerals Ii, II, secured'thereto and projecting from each side thereof. Y 1 The fuselage I0 comprises a framework is diirldedinto a plurality of longitudinally ex- Y tending sections, which sections are shown. herein as four in number, the extent of said sections being indicated by the characters A, B, C, and D, Fig. 3. YAs is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each section of fuselage comprises two substantially identical, transversely arcuate frame elements I3, I3 adapted tobe assembled with each other with concave sides in confronting relation to provide a generally tubular fuselage section. Each frame element I3 comprises arcuate end-V rails I4 at each end thereof, and lcngitudinally extending slats. I5, I5 secured to said end-rails and connecting the' same. The frame elements also maybe provided with intermediate braces` I6 similar to the end-rails I4, Vand with diagonal Each frame element I3 constitutes the side of a fuselage section and when the two elements of a section are in assembled relation, the end-rails IlV of the sections are in end-toend relationV at the top of the fuselage, but stand apart fromV each other at the bottom thereof as shown-in Fig. 5. At the top of the fuselage the abutting ends of a pair of end-rails I4 are coniplernentally formed with notch andtongue I8 to effect accurate registry of the abutting parts, said parts .being here secured to each, other by a simple hook or latch It. At' the bottom of the fuselage the spaced-apart ends of the end-rails I4 of the elements of a section are connected by a bar 20 that is pivotally mounted at 2I on one end-rail and has its other end notched for engagement with a screw or stud 2i!V on the f other end-rail.V

The arrangement is such that the frame elements I3 of each fuselage section'readily and easily may be assembled with each other, andas easily dis-assembled.V Although each Vhalf or elementjof each fuselage section is substantially identical with the other half or element thereof, the sectionsthemselves are not identical, but are of, suchrshape longitudinally of the fuselage that when they are assembled end-to-end they provide the latter with the desired streamline shape. This is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 wherein it will be seen that tail section D tapers gradually toward a relativelysmall dat end atthe rear thereof, and nose section A not only'tapers sharply toward its forward end, but is formed with a stepped or offset portion 24;,at its vrear end in p that Y simulation of the wind-shield at the front of the cockpit of an airplane. The four sections of the fuselage are assembled with each other in proper sequence in end-to-end relation and are secured to each other by bolts 25 that extend through the'end-rails of the sections at the confronting ends thereof. The bolts 25 are provided with wing nuts for easy manipulation and application.

The tail section D is arranged to lcarry an empennage assembly in simulation of kthe verti-- cal and horizontal stabilizers and rudders 'of co`n' ventional airplanes, and to'this end the elements I3 of said tail section are laterally slotted from the rear end thereof forwardly to the intermediate braces IS thereof,'and mounted in said slots site ends.

inner ends of the wing frames rest upon and are 1 'bolted to the arms 58, 50, and the abutted sideis a horizontal stabilizer member 28/thefront j margin of which is deeply recessed, as indicated at 29, Fig. 1, so as to extend forwardly of.,.said braces I6 at each side of said elements I3. .'Ihe stabilizer member 28 is shown as a onepi'e'ce structure, butitmay be `made of a plurality Lof transverse sections if desired so as to be'collapsible for storage in a relatively small crate. Inlike manner the said elements .I3 of section D stand apart 'from each other at top of the section along the centerline of the section from the rearend thereof to the braces H5, and received in said slot isa vertical stabilizer andrudder structure 30. Rearwardly of 'the Vbraces'lt the structure '0 rests upon the horizontal stabilizer member 223, the latter having a pair of spaced apart cleats 3| secured to its top face to define a groove in which the bottom margin of structure 3i) is received.

Forwardly of the braces I6 the structure 3g overhangs the section structure in close proximity thereto. The vertical and horizontal stabilizer structures are additionally braced by small wires or cables 32 connecting them to each other.

As previouslyV stated, the nose section A tapers sharply toward its forward end,and swiveled on said forward'end is propeller 3L. or'reasonable simulation thereof, said propeller being herein shown as having three blades. A conical sheet metal fairinG-or nose piece is mounted on the.

hub of the propeller in continuation of tlie'taper of the forward end portion of thesection A. v

Each of the wings l l vthat extend from vopposite sides of the fuselage comprisestwo.longitudinally vextending skeleton-sections Ilaan'd Hb arranged side by side, and a wing-tip section .l lc supported thereby at the end thereof remote lfrom the fuselage. As is best shown in Figsf and 9, the wing section l le, which is the leading side Yof .the wing, comprises longitudinally extending woodensiderails 35 that are connected to each otherat their ends by cross-pieces 421,- lill, said cross-pieces disposed on lthe und-er Vside of said side-rails. Also connectingsaid side-rails are a multiplicity of wood slats 42, 42 that are disposed on `theftop of side-rails, and somewhat upwardly bowed to simulate the camber vof `conventional airplane wings. In like manner the wing section l'l'b comprises sid -rails 4d, kend cross-pieces 45, G5, and transverse slats dl, lll'.Y In the assembling of the wing sections l la, l lb' with each 'othenzthe side-rail 39 vof section `I la and side-rail 4310i s'ection l ib are brought into laterally abutting relation andsecured to eachother by suitable bolts, as 'shown in Fig. 8. When thus assembl'edthe rail 3,8 `is at the leading edge Vof the wing, the rail M is at the trailing edge ofthe wing,an'd1the anfdfhas one straight margin that vis `disposed in laterally `abutting relation -totheend-rail's fdl), i5

rails 39, 43 ofthe wing frames rest upon the cross pieces L5l `jat tlreends of said arms 53. Preferably 'the arms Eil are'notched to receive the said crosspieces 148, 145, the arrangement being such that the wing frames tilt somewhat upwardly toward their louter ends.

For supporting the decoy at the proper elevation from the ground, respective rectangular frame element 53,153 are mounted at opposite sidesi of the fuselage between -thearlns 58 and removably secured toV the latter. lEach frame element b3 carries three struts lCul that extend obliquely downwardly and connect. at their lower ends to :a skid piece `55, twol 01' l,said struts being in the same vertical plane andthe other disposed at an angle to said plane. Fixedly mounted on the two struts that are in the same plane is a circular wooden disc 5G that ispainted to simulate an airplane landing wheel and tire. The disc 5S is so mounted as to be positioned a few inches above the ground, the skid pieces resting upon the ground to supportthe forward end O the decoy., At the tail end -of the decoy three struts 5l are removably secured to the elements of Ifuselage sectiony D,'on the bottom thereof and have their lower 'ends connected to a skid piece 458 that rests upon the ground. The struts 5l support the rear end of the decoy, and are of such length that said decoy slopes downwardly toward its rear as is customary with aircraft.

The decoy iSj provided with ra `cover of duck, canvas, or similar Asuitable material, and said coveris-made in vthree pieces `to coverthe fuselage frame and the two wing frames respectively. The coveruhits are tailored to t the respective frame members,` and completely cover the tops of said members, said cover units being secured to the iframe elements by lacing engaging the `mar- Y be cut away beneath the wings lil, ras shown in Fig; Lforthesame reason.

"fllhe` lacing :by `meansof which the cover units are secured 'to'th'e vfuselage and wing frames is best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7. It comprises short ropes or cables '63,"83, each havingan end thereof secured to a cover unit adjacent one margin thereof,and extending througha small hole in a wooden pin 64, the other end of said rope beingfsecured tolone `end :of said pin. By means ofthegpinfthe Tropeis .formed :with an adjustable loop,.:an'd 'theilatter :may Abe looped lover a hook 652cm .the Dppositeamargin of zthe cover unit. ,By

means of the pins 54 the ropes may be drawn taut to tighten the cover unitsupon the frame members of the decoy, yet maybe loosened quickly when it is desired to dismantle the latter.-

When the decoy is first constructed, and after the cover units 6d, El have been laced thereon as shown, said cover is painted in such a manner as closely to simulate the appearance of a conventional airplane as viewed from above. In drying, the paint shrinks the cover fabric somewhat so that the cover is more tightly stretched over the frame. The empennage assembly and simulated landing gear are painted at the same time as the cover.

The invention provides a decoy that is deceptively similar to an airplane when viewed from a short distance, especially from above. The decoy is relatively cheap to construct, may be towed from one location to another, is readily assembled and dis-assembled, and achieves the other objects set out in the foregoing statement of objects. v

Modification may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or .the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Wha-t is claimed is:

1. A -decoy airplane comprising a fuselage frame composed of a plurality of readily separable longitudinal sections, wing frames supported by one of the fuselage sections, a removable fabric cover for the fuselage frame, respective removable covers for the wing frames, a simulated propeller mounted upon the nose of the front fuselage section, and an empennage structure carried by the rear fuselage section.

2. A decoy airplane of the character described comprising a fuselage frame composed of a plurality of longitudinal sections arranged end-tend and releasably secured to each other, said sections each composed of two component elements disposed side by side, said elements being transversely arcuate and abutting each other at the top of the frame but spaced Vapart at the bottom thereof, and means releasably connecting the elements of each section to each other.

3. A decoy airplane of the character described comprising a fuselage frame composed of a plurality of longitudinal sections arranged end-toend and releasably attached to each other, the rear endY of the tail section being transversely slotted, and a horizontally disposed stabilizer and elevator structure mounted in said slot and projecting from opposite sides of the section, .the l forward margin of the stabilizer being'deeply notched so as to extend forwardly beyond the slot at each side of the fuselage frame.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the tail section of the fuselage is slotted along its centerline from the rear end of the section,

including va verticalstabilizer and rudder structure mounted in said slot and having a portion resting upon the horizontal stabilizer structure, said vertical stabilized having an oifset portion extending forwardly beyond said slot.

5. A combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the tail section of the fuselage is slotted along a portion of its centerline extending forwardly from the rear end of the section, including a vertical stabilizer and rudder structure mounted in said slot and resting upon the horizontal stabilizer structure, and a pair of parallel spaced apart cleats cn the top face of the latter defining a groove in which the bottom margin of the vertical stabilizer structure is received.

6. A decoy airplanev of the character described comprising a fuselage frame, a pair of parallel joists extending through the fuselage frame and projecting each side thereof, and respective wing frames at each side of the fuselage mounted upon the projecting portions of said joistsand releas-v ably secured thereto.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6 in which each wing frame comprises two longitudinally extending sections disposed side by side and releasably connected to the joists and to each other, and a Wing tip section releasably connected to the two longitudinal sections at the outer end thereof.

8. A decoy airplane of the character described comprising a fuselage frame, a pair of' parallel joists extending through the said frame and projecting each side thereof, respective wing frames at each side of the fuselage and releasably mounted upon the projecting portions of said joists, and struts releasably connected to said joists at each side thereof and converging downwardly to respective skid blocks to constitute supports for the forward end of the decoy.

9. A decoy airplane comprising a fuselage frame simulating the top and sides only of an airplane frame, wing frames secured thereto and projecting laterally from each side thereof, and respective fabric covers for the fuselage frame and each wing frame, said covers partly yenveloping said frame, including means for drawing the margins of the covers toward each other on the under side of said frames.

10. A decoy airplane of the character described comprising a fuselage frame composed of arcuate` separable elements connected to each other, said elements being in abutting relation along the top of the fuselage and `spaced apart along the bottom thereof so as to simulate only the topV and opposite sides of an airplane frame, and a onepiece fabric cover mountable on said frame and covering the same except the open bottom thereof. f

`CLYDE E. BUCHTEL. 

